In the 1960s and 70s, vinyl records became a cultural phenomenon. Pivotal albums like Abbey Road, Dark Side of the Moon, and Rumors fueled the golden age of the record industry, making records and their turntable counterparts a must-have system in family households. Listening to records became a popular pastime, with state-of-the-art audio equipment and stereo sound becoming more accessible. In a major artistic shift, people found their groove in vinyl.
Until the Walkman.
In 1979, when the first Sony Walkman was released, record sales saw a striking decline. Unsurprisingly so, Cassette tapes and the Walkman became the primary source of music consumption, as their portable convenience made chunky turntables and large records a thing of the past. Though some audiophiles held their sonic loyalty to vinyl records, a new shift in music listening was imminent. The House of Marley describes this shift as the “final blow [during] the dawn of the digital age—the CD. In addition to portability, CDs were preferred for their convenience, storage capacity and accurate sound.” Inevitably, as CDs became all the rage, record sales experienced a sharp and undeniable nosedive. In the early 2000s, when digital platforms like Napster, iTunes, and LimeWire were launched, less than a million records were sold. And yet, with dynamic improvements that have transcended into our modern world, Gen Z has gone old school.
The Cornell Daily Sun reports that “record sales are in their 16th consecutive year of growth. In the U.S. alone, sales are up to $1.2 billion a year from just $14.2 million in 2007. Oddly enough, it’s not Boomers and Gen X-ers seeking nostalgia or following old habits, but Gen Z and millennials driving the sales boom.” This resurgence speaks to a broader cultural shift toward appreciating analog experiences in a digital age . For a generation raised on instant streaming and playlists, vinyl offers something uniquely tactile and intentional—a way to slow down and understand the artistry of music. Sophomore Jane Saffel, an avid record collector, describes the ritualistic experience of owning records: “Owning vinyl records makes the connection between listener and artist real. It creates the sense that the music is your own.” Vinyl’s comeback has fostered a connection between the listener and the art that was not there before. Devoid of a skip button, queue, or shuffle feature, participants are forced to hear the music exactly as the artist intended it, allowing people to discover new sounds and appreciate the not-so mainstream songs. From passive streaming to almost demanding of your attention, listening to vinyl records has strengthened human connection to sound.
This trend, however, is not the only nostalgic revival that we have seen as of late. The resurgence of thrifting and fixation on ‘retro’ aesthetics has profoundly influenced the way that we view vintage things, and yearn for new, independent experiences. Junior Evan Jackson offers his point of view, saying that “our generation wants to participate in the trends that we missed out on in a way—I think that is why we see so many trends from the 80s and 90s resurface.” This longing for the past is not entirely based on aesthetics; it is about reclaiming a sense of authenticity and individuality in a mass-produced, digital world.
Another key player in the vinyl renaissance is the physical collectability of records. Freshman Jude Maybell reflects on his record collection, saying, “I see records as more of a collectible item; we have a lot in my house, but they are not frequently used because they are less convenient.” With a seemingly endless, perfect curation of music on tap, that is attuned to our tastes and presented by an algorithm, many Gen Z-ers may be suffering a sort of ‘streaming-fatigue.’ The collectability and tactile appeal of purchasing vinyl has vastly contributed to recent record sales, as it gives listeners a sense of ownership over their music, beyond the reach of a Spotify playlist. Senior Addison Sawyer reciprocates this feeling and explains that she knows “people who will buy [records] even though they don’t have a record player.”
In a world dominated by digital convenience and fleeting trends, the vinyl renaissance reminds us that some experiences are worth slowing down for. As Gen Z leads the charge in reviving this analog art form, one thing is clear: the future of music might be streaming, but the soul of music is still spinning at 33 1/3 RPM.
